Folkestone have worked their way back up the league table.

Saturday 10th January 2015 London 3SE Report by Alan Schofield
Folkestone have gradually worked their way back up the league table after their wobbles in October and November – and the earlier narrow defeat against Old Dunstonians at Beckenham was their first loss of the season. Therefore not only was revenge was in their minds on this winter’s day at boggy Burlington Fields, but they had their eyes on dislodging Dunstonians from their league position in 4th place, just above Folkestone.
And if Old Dunstonians had any thoughts of consolidating their league position, these thoughts were quickly snuffed out by a first half performance by the home team that exceeded everything they have produced so far this season.
Pitch conditions were very heavy, but Folkestone made light of this with a fast opening – Will Silvey, Thomo Murray and Jon Morton all testing the opposition to bring attacking play into the O.D.’s 22 metres area. The forward push took play up to the line when the ball was lost. Dunstonians tried a kick to relieve the pressure but Jon Eustace charged it down and Adam Tolman was in the right place to touch down under the posts. Jon Morton converted, 7 – 0.
O.D’s barely had time to see the Folkestone half of the field, after the re-start, before Steve Doughty and Josh Kemp seized possession feeding Adam Tolman for the long downfield kick. The Stones continued their high tempo rugby inter-passing with speed and accuracy. Tom Carvill and Charlie Millen made determined runs at the thick of the opposition saw the visitors, again, desperately defending their line, piling men into the rucks and mauls. But they left a small gap – small enough for Josh Kemp, assisted by Chris Petley, to charge his way through for a second try and a 12 – 0 lead after 15 minutes.
O.D’s best answer to Folkestone’s liveliness was to try the long kick out of defence. But Will Silvey, at full back, was faultless in his positioning and catching, setting up yet more assaults on their embattled opponents. With shorts kicks quickly followed up and dominance in the rucks and the mauls - Folkestone soon were encamped in the opponent’s 22 metre zone, and another try seemed inevitable when they conceded a desperate off-side manoeuvre. Skipper ‘Moose’ Murray elected to give Jon Morton an easy penalty kick to give The Stones a 15 – 0 score line after 25 minutes.
The restart saw some attacking moves by Old Dunstonian, but their handling was erratic and although their forwards had the appearance of being heavier than The Stones they were not able to control the scrums. James Mead, at scrum half was in the thick of it producing the ball from unlikely situations and feeding the back line for a series of attacking moves. Only a massive kick from defence saw Old Dunstonian gain field position that was maintained for some minutes, only to see that the Folkestone team in defence was just a good as in attack.
The half time team talk by the Dunstonian coach must have been effectual because they came out showing their league position was not an accident. Immediately from the kick off they put The Stones into defensive mode. Then winning a scrum and a line out in quick succession, they attacked strongly on the right wing overwhelming the disorganised defence and running the ball round the in-goal area to touch down in between the posts for a nervous looking 15 – 7 scoreboard.
But Dunstonian didn’t see the ball again until Folkestone had retaliated by scoring another try within 2 minutes. From a scrum Will Turner broke right and short passes between the backs scattered the Dunstonian defences leaving a gap for Adam Tolman to tear through at speed. Unfortunately Jon Morton’s attempt at adding the extra 2 points just failed in the strengthening wind. 20 – 7.
Playing conditions worsened as the pitch cut up badly and the game became a centre field battle of the forwards. Steve Doughty at hooker injured his shoulder and was replaced by Warren Blandford, but when Tom Carvill was yellow carded following a ‘bit of a do’ along with a Dunstonian offender – Blandford was promoted to prop. This allowed the welcome return of Richie Bowen (his broken nose now straight again) who took up the unlikely position of hooker.
Folkestone strived for their fourth try and the bonus point, but were denied by strong defence. But when Dunstonian conceded a penalty almost underneath the cross bar ‘Moose’ Murray rightly elected to take the scrum, but a marginal offside gave away the advantage, and the chance of the extra point as there was no time remaining to mount another effort.
Had it been otherwise, and the try scored, then Folkestone would have jumped two league places to be third on their own. But irrespective of the league table, Folkestone showed by this performance, in these conditions, that they have a squad that can take them back into being candidates for promotion if there is any slip by Horsham or Dartfordians at the top of the table.
Team: Will Silvey; Thomo Murray, Ollie Walton, John Eustace, Jon Morton; Adam Tolman, James Mead; Martin Murray (Capt.), Steve Doughty, Tom Carvill; Ben Stringer, Josh Kemp; Charlie Millen, Will Turner, Chris Petley.
Subs: Warren Blandford, Miles Dempsey, Richie Bowen.
Scorers: Adam Tolman 5, 5; Jon Morton 2, 3; Josh Kemp 5.